Chapter 7
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve been recovering. I do feel better but I’ve been fainting quite a bit, sometimes it feels like something is wrong.. I’ve lost an incredible amount of weight and my skin had gone pale. I look almost like a porcelain doll that could break. Theo has been taking the best care of me, I’ve started to feel happy again. My love for him didn’t fade away, it was just tucked behind my heart. But I can’t feel the full force of my feelings, because I still love Theseus. I feel like I’m torn. Between two lives I’ve lived. But I try not to dwell on that so much, Theo has been doing a lot of work for Grindelwald, it’s almost as if he is his top go to person for anything aside from Creedence. I sat up in the bed, I’ve been trying to walk around the Castle at least twice a day now, help build up my strength incase I’m needed or I need to go…
“Ophelia, Grindelwald wants a word with you.” Theo came into our room. I smiled and he came over to the best side to help me up and greeted me with a kiss.
“How do you feel?” He asked.
“I feel… okay today” I answered and grabbed a robe to cover me, I put on my ballet flats and turned to Theo, I stared into his dreamy eyes and I reached out to touch his dark curls. He was so handsome, he smiled cause it was something I always used to do.
“What was it that Grindelwald wanted?” I asked. He sighed and his face turned a bit more serious.
“It’s a big favour, don’t feel pressured to do it, he just wants to know if you are able to handle it.” His face seemed even more serious, his glare was very enchanting, he had a look that always made you want to say yes to anything he could ever ask. I suppose I did.
“Okay I’ll go speak to him now” he nodded and kissed my hand.
“I’ll come with you just in case you need help or if you fall” he was so sweet, he really did care. I still worry if he’s afraid of the commitment, what if he just decides to leave again? I don’t know how much more my heart can take. He reached out his arm for me to hold onto while we walked in the silence of the castle, every now and then we could hear someone laugh, or someone’s footsteps on the cool stone. It was indeed a beautiful castle. And it felt like a family living here. I’ve always wanted a happy family ever since my parents died. I wish I never said anything. Maybe things would be different, maybe they would still be alive. Maybe I wouldn’t feel so… alone. After a few minutes we found Grindelwald in the grand study. It was filled with books from the floor to the ceiling and a grand desk no doubt made of some heavy wood.
“Good Morning Ophelia! Theo! You look like you’re feeling better Ophelia. Please sit.” He gestured to the two chair facing his desk. I could feel I was slowly getting tired from walking in the great castle.
“Good evening Gillert, Theo told me you wanted to ask a favour?” He nodded and looked out the window at the beautiful and vast scenery surrounding the castle.
“I need you to go to Herr Vogel’s tea ceremony, What I need is to distract Dumbledores- let’s call them associates to prevent them from reaching out to Vogel.” That’s it? So his team? That shouldn’t be too much work for me.
“You are well known among them so naturally they will follow you and Theo. And Theo I will need you to give Vogel a message for me.” Theo nodded, and they both looked to me.
“I’ll do it Gillert, my energy has been increasing I should be okay.” I smiled, excited to leave the castle after being so ill. Grindelwald sat in his desk chair and lit a cigarette.
“So of course it will be you two, Vinda and Carrow, as well as some loyal followers from inside the german ministry, they will be aiding you. All you need to do Ophelia is walk, I have no doubt you will at least attract one of Dumbledores friends.” Sounds simple enough.
“When do we leave?” I asked nervous and excited butterflies fluttered about in my stomach.
“This evening” he spoke before taking a long drag of his cigarette. Blowing an enormous smoke cloud into the air. There’s no way I can get a warning to Newt, I wonder if he will be there. Theo went to stand and I followed suit.
“We will go get ready then” Theo answered for us. And we started to walk for the door.
“And I’ll swing by and get the message you want to pass to Herr Vogel before we go” Grindelwald nodded and smirked. It seems everyone had big plans. How is it I can never see how any big plans can be carried out? I don’t always believe things will go the way they are suppose to, but then some how it was always according to someone’s big plan. And it feels like there’s something Grindelwald isn’t telling me, he knows something. Why ask me if all people to go on this mission when there is plenty able bodied people here. Aside from that I actually am excited to leave the castle, I’ve been feeling cooped up these past months. Maybe everything will just go according to plan and nothing bad will happen.
A few hours past and Theo had told me the dress code was cocktail attire. Since I’ve lost an incredible amount of weight my dress size is now a size 4. The dress I picked out was a black satin dress that came past my knees. It has a v neckline with lantern sleeves and buttons all the way down. It compliments my body very well and makes me looks extremely elegant. I did my hair into a sleek bun and wore emerald earrings finishing the look with black ballet flats. We had left and I got a lot of compliments on our way to the tea ceremony. When we arrived boy was I glad I dressed the way I did. You could tell it was more of a high society function of witches and wizards. Theo dress in a sharp black suite and he looked incredibly handsome, of course still sporting his dark curls, he got a lot of looks from other women. It never really bugged me because I knew how incredibly good looking he was, it was only natural to look at him. We were standing in the crowd arms locked waiting for Herr Vogel to show, and then Theo gently leaded me towards the double door opposite from the small stage. Then the doors opened and a few people came to talk to him all at once. He noticed Theo and I and walked over to us.
“Ah Theo Black, good to see you, and who’s this beautiful women?” He reached out his hand and I complied and he kissed the top of my hand.
“This is Ophelia, my Fiancé” what? I quickly looked at him and he had a big smile across his face. My heart doubled and I didn’t know what to think.
“Wonderful to meet you both.” Theo whispered something but I couldn’t hear and then he let go of my arm and went closer to Herr Vogel and whispered something to him. That must be my cue. I smiled and bowed slightly and walked into the crowd looking around. Then I noticed a familiar haircut, it was Newt!!!! He was walking towards Herr Vogel and he was with… Theseus. It felt like I was hit with a blunt force to the chest. They both haven’t noticed me yet, maybe there’s time to escape. I can’t do this! I went to turn but stopped myself with both has as I almost ran right into Theo. I looked up at him, my hands still on his chest.
“What’s wrong Darling?” He asked. I couldn’t let him know, not like this. I took a breathe and put on a smile.
“Nothing! I was just coming to look for you” he smiled and put his hands on my waist. He leant into me, was he going for a kiss?
“Dumbledore’s associates are here, let’s walk to the exit now.” He turned his body towards the door not breaking eye contact with me, but I was the first to look back. All I could see was the heartbreak on Theseus’s face. I forced myself to look back at Theo, it took everything in me to stay put with him, and not run to Theo. But then Theo looked back at who I looked at, but he put a grin on his face and held out his arm. I grabbed onto him with both hands. Herr Vogel was already announcing that Grindelwald was clear on all crimes. People were starting to panic, Theo nodded at Vinda and Carrow. Then I heard his voice.
“Ophelia! Wait! Please don’t leave!” I looked back and stopped and seen the disdain on his face.
“Ophelia, let’s go love” I nodded and forced myself to look away from Theseus. Oh how I’m so sorry…
Newts POV
I couldn’t believe my eyes, it was Ophelia! They were talking to Herr Vogal, she looked incredibly beautiful, but you can tell she lost a lot of weight. I wonder if she will be okay. She was with a man who was I will admit handsome indeed, that must be Theo. Slowly Ophelia walked away and she started to look around. Then Herr Vogal walked away, there’s my chance! I rushed over to Vogel and was greeted with ready wands,
“Mr.Scamnder how are you?” He asked
“I’m fine sir, I have a message for you from out friend. Do what is right, not what is easy” I really hope he listens.
“Ah, is he here?” He asked. But I couldn’t answer that because I honestly don’t know myself.
“Why leave the safety of hogwarts when the world around you is burning?” He went to walk away but I needed to know.
“Herr Vogal! That man and women you were talking too, who are they?” I asked. He looked confused and looked at Ophelia and The man, and smiled.
“Lovely young couple, that’s Theo Black and his Fiancé Ophelia. Now Newt I must go I have a speech to make.” He turned and walked up the stage. His fiancé? I thought Ophelia said there’s no chance of them being together, I just thought in her letter meant he was there and not ‘together’ together. I looked around as I had a sudden realization, where did Theseus go? I quickly looked back at Jacob and Lally, but he wasn’t with them. I scanned the audience and noticed him in the crowd, Merlin’s beard he was going after Ophelia! I went after him trying not to attract too much attention to myself.
“Theseus!” I called after him, but it’s like he didn’t even hear me. Ophelia looked back at him one last time but Theo said something to her and she turned her head and they were gone. Theseus then tried to arrest the wizards blocking him, but then someone in front of me cast a spell and knocked him out. I started to move faster through the crowd. Grindelwald’s followers stared me down, daring me to try get to my brother. The crowd started to panic and rush the doors.
“Newt!” Lally was calling me back. I guess Ophelia really did choose Grindelwald‘s side.